Billing code 98977: Remote monitoringMedicare rate & RVUs in Virginia
Reports supply of a remote monitoring device for musculoskeletal therapy when the device captures and transmits qualifying data on 16–30 days.
Medicare pays $50.47–$60.57 for 98977 in the office in Virginia, from Virginia to Dc + Md/Va Suburbs. Which amount applies depends on the service address.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 9 sections
What 98977 covers
This code covers supplying a remote therapeutic monitoring device that captures and transmits scheduled data about a patient’s musculoskeletal status. A physical therapist, physician, or other treating professional may use the data to follow a home rehabilitation program, such as therapy for persistent low-back pain or shoulder mobility limitations. The device may record therapy adherence or response, such as movement or exercise-related information, for review by the care team.
Report one unit for a 30-day period when qualifying data are recorded or transmitted on at least 16 days during that period. Documentation should identify the musculoskeletal condition, the device and data monitored, the monitoring period, and the days with qualifying data. CMS assigns no work RVU; its fee schedule valuation reflects practice expense and malpractice inputs. Setup and patient education, when performed, are represented by 98975; treatment-management services are represented by 98980 and 98981 and require their own supporting documentation.
This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.
Where 98977 pays more and less in Virginia
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Dc + Md/Va Suburbs | $60.57 | Unavailable |
| Virginia | $50.47 | Unavailable |
How the 98977 rate is calculated
Each of 98977’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.
How the rate is built · 98977
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work0.00
0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense1.53
1.53 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.01
0.01 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
1.5400
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$51.44
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 98977
98977 has no global surgery period, no multiple-procedure, bilateral or assistant-at-surgery adjustment, and no professional/technical split. What changes the payment is where the service happens: the place of service on the claim decides whether Medicare pays the office or the facility rate.
Place of service · 98977
Which rate does Medicare pay?
The POS code on the claim line (CMS-1500 box 24B).
POS 11 · non-facility rate · national
$51.44
Higher because the practice carries its own overhead.
98977 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
5 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 98985RTM device supply
- Both cover musculoskeletal RTM device supply. Choose 98977 for 16–30 days of qualifying data and 98985 for 2–15 days.
- 98976RTM device supply
- Both cover RTM device supply for 16–30 days, but 98976 monitors the respiratory system rather than the musculoskeletal system.
- 98978Rtm dev sply cbt 16-30 d
- 98978 covers device supply for cognitive behavioral therapy monitoring; 98977 is specific to musculoskeletal monitoring.
- 98980RTM management
- 98977 represents the device-supply service. 98980 represents the first treatment-management time increment and requires its own qualifying time and communication.
98977 billing questions
When should 98977 be chosen over 98985?
Use 98977 when qualifying musculoskeletal monitoring data are captured on 16–30 days in the 30-day period. Code 98985 represents the shorter 2–15-day monitoring period.
What documentation supports the day count?
Keep the monitoring dates and device records showing qualifying musculoskeletal data were captured or transmitted on at least 16 days. Identify the condition and the data being monitored.
Does 98977 include setup or treatment-management time?
No. It represents the device-supply service. Code 98975 represents setup and patient education, while 98980 and 98981 represent RTM treatment-management time and communication.
Can 98977 be reported for respiratory monitoring?
No. 98977 is for musculoskeletal monitoring; 98976 is the corresponding device-supply code for respiratory system monitoring.
How many units are reported?
Report one unit for the 30-day monitoring period when the 16–30-day requirement is met. Do not count each device or each transmission as a separate unit.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.
CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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